Indigenous artist bridges culture through music in Vernon – Vernon Morning Star

March 25, 2026

Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney is rapidly emerging as one of Atlantic Canada’s most compelling young musicians.

Using music as a tool for cultural connection, healing, and storytelling, his debut album First Flight (2022) received widespread acclaim, and he has earned multiple award nominations in the intervening years including this year’s Juno nomination for Traditional Album of the Year for the release of his most recent album, Heal the Divide. The result will be revealed at the Juno Awards ceremony on March 29.

Toney’s distinctive sound, (he calls it ‘Mi’kmal8c,’ a self-created description) blends traditional Mi’kmaq songs with Cape Breton Celtic fiddle music. This fusion creates a musical style that feels both innovative and yet also rooted in tradition, reviving songs passed down for generations while addressing contemporary Indigenous experiences.